Nashville Pride seeks $250K to save LGBT festival, parade
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The annual Nashville Pride Festival & Parade is facing an uncertain future after organizers say they’ve seen drops in sponsorship and attendance coupled with rising costs.
Nashville Pride said in an Aug. 20 release that sponsorship deals have dropped by $270,000 compared to previous years. In order to secure the festival’s future, the nonprofit Nashville Pride is trying to raise $250,000 by Oct. 11.
The news comes as corporations across the country are distancing themselves from local LGBTQ+ events in response to growing political opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
“These challenges left Nashville Pride with a gap that no single organization can fix,” Nashville Pride Board of Director President Tina Tousignant said in a statement. “But together, our community can help. Pride has always belonged to the people, and now more than ever, we need the people to step up and help Save Nashville Pride.”
Nashville Pride loses Bridgestone, Nissan as sponsors
For its 2025 festival, Nashville Pride had one presenting sponsor after two corporate sponsors dropped out.
Bridgestone Americas withdrew as a presenting sponsor after 11 years, and Nissan withdrew after four, leaving Nashville CARES, a local sexual health clinic that focuses on HIV treatment, as the event’s lone sponsor.
Bridgestone West released a June statement clarifying the company’s position.
“Although we are not a ‘presenting’ sponsor this year, we continue to support Nashville Pride,” Davis Adams-Smith, director of public relations for Bridgestone West, said in the statement. “Bridgestone prefers for the focus to be placed on the events and activities that bring our community together, promote awareness about important issues, and enable education and inclusion.”
A spokesperson with Nissan did not address the company’s decision to withdraw it’s support for the festival but said in a June statement the company is “reviewing all marketing and sales spending” to maximize efficiency and breakthrough effectiveness.
A lack of sponsorship wasn’t the only problem cited by organizers.
The festival was also hampered by a 15,000 person drop in attendance many organizers attributed to severe weather on one of the biggest festival days.
Security costs more than doubled as safety needs increased, and a last-minute medical support cancelation left festival organizers with a $30,000 bill.
Nashville Pride Vice President Alycia Ehimen said Pride is about survival.
“They’re coming for our rights, our marriages, and now our community spaces. Saving Nashville Pride is about saving more than a festival — it’s about saving our future,” Ehimen said.
Donations can be made at www.savenashvillepride.org.
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at [email protected] and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
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